Page 43 - RLI November 2019

MIXED-USE PROFILE - MIDDLE EAST | SHEIKHA FATIMA PARK

Open Air

Discovery

The redesigned Sheikha Fatima Park will be integrated

within the wider community to create a place of
discovery and family interactivity. Here, RLI speaks

with Walid El Hindi, CEO of IMKAN Properties to
learn more about this innovative and exciting upcoming

urban green space.

he owners of Sheikha Fatima Park (SFP), Abu In line with the park’s theme of active wellness, visitors surrounding them in the region, this development will be El Hindi believes the project “Surrounded by a strong
Dhabi Municipality, selected IMKAN as their can expect a robust suite of leisure and sports activities to one of the first parks that will not be enclosed to create the and its elements will speak for
joint venture partner to redevelop what was include a skate park, basketball court, splash pads, zip line, openness the congested area lacks. “Quite simply, SFP will themselves given the unique daytime office population,
T historically a park that catered to women and outdoor yoga, pop-up movies and small concerts among be a soulful community that enriches people’s lives; IMKAN’s quality and richness of the overall the park will provide a
children only. As part of Abu Dhabi’s 2030 Vision to enhance others. Visitors will also be able to park in a dedicated core purpose as a real estate developer.” development. With a strong
social liveability, the Municipality gave IMKAN the mandate parking structure with over 300 spaces. In accordance with the project brief, IMKAN intends to catchment surrounding the richer variety of F&B than
to repurpose this park set in the midst of a key historical The retail element of SFP will be set across 10,000sq m bring offerings that are unique to the community whilst project, he believes that these currently exists, along with
community of Khalidiya in mainland Abu Dhabi. and six boutique style buildings. The merchandise mix will providing an open park dedicated to all age groups. The visitors, and those from the wider
“We at IMKAN have answered this call and will create the be curated to offer fresh exciting concepts that support design aims to transform an underutilised space into an areas of Abu Dhabi, will want to retail uses and services that
Emirate’s first urban lifestyle park reimagined with one-of-a- and prioritise local start-ups and regional brands that cater open, vibrant, and easily accessible public recreational and return to remember their past will be available during
kind offerings within an overarching theme of active wellness,” to activities, wellness, education and quality food. It is an leisure destination. and experience the new.
explains Walid El Hindi, CEO of IMKAN Properties. all-premium offer, but an offer available at affordable pricing. The scheme is built on an innovative approach to Finally we ask El Hindi that, when lunch or other breaks”
As placemakers, the approach to this new project “Surrounded by a strong daytime office population, the development by integrating the park within new commercial looking forward, what are the key
began with its internal R&D platform. Once it was decided park will provide a richer variety of F&B than currently components, defining and shaping the resulting urban space priorities and what challenges are left before completion?
to create a place that is multi-layered in its offerings and exists, along with retail uses and services that will be to promote access to the park and synergistically activate the “The park’s retail buildings are scheduled to complete
its demographical reach, it led the team to the design of available during lunch or other breaks. Additionally, there is site’s major street frontages. their core and shell condition by December this year; this
three specific zones (retail and food & beverage, adventure, a growing millennial segments seeking cool concepts that While the scale of SFP may not match such global urban will be followed by all the landscaping works, which are due
neighbourhood) within this 46,000sq m project. will keep them active and entertained over the weekend,” parks as Prospect Park in Brooklyn, New York, Manhattan’s to complete in April 2020. Me and the team at IMKAN are
“Additionally, local climate patterns led us to study and explains El Hindi. Central Park, London’s Hyde Park or Amsterdam’s Vondel focused on attracting a balanced set of key tenancies to
design elements to create sustainability measures to include As Abu Dhabi’s first urban park, SFP will have over 450 Park to name a few, the elements offered at this park will complete the wonderful vision that is already being brought
microclimate areas which enable extended enjoyment by the trees with 16 profiles and heights ranging from two to be curated to fit and complement the cultural profile and to fruition at Shekiha Fatima Park,” he concludes.
community over the course of the whole year,” El Hindi says. eight metres. Since all the parks have historically had walls nuances of Abu Dhabi. www.imkan.ae